This is my first of many blog posts here on TPG and I can see no other topic to discuss for my inaugural blog then my beloved Cleveland Browns. It is true that in the past my Brownies have not had the best of luck, but 2010 is going to be the year they change all of this around. Brady Quinn is gone and we have a new Czar at the reigns that goes by the name of….. Mike Holmgren. Not only do I predict that the Brownies will turn their luck around, I am predicting them to go to the playoffs this year. Am I biased? You bet your ass, I am. Do my opinions outweigh actual fact and logic? Of course…

Reason #1: Mike Holmgren

As stated above, Mike Holmgren is the greatest of all additions to this historic team recently. It is no secret in years past that the main thing the Browns franchise lacked is leadership in the front office (along with not scoring enough points in a lot of games to get wins). And with Holmgren taking the reigns and bringing the Browns the leadership they so desperately needed, the sky is the limit. He not only wisely kept head coach Eric Mangini after a less than mediocre season, he has an unprecedented ‘nose’ for finding great quarterbacks for his prior teams. And seeing how the Browns lacked in that department after they traded QB Brady Quinn, and QB Derek Anderson, Holmgren sought out veteran QB Jake Delhomme from Carolina, and former Seahawk’s QB S. Wallace (Holmgren’s prior team where he coached). Delhomme did not have a great season last year with Carolina, granted. But I still think he has some juice left in the tank and will be a great veteran starter for this young Browns team. Wallace is a great back up and both Delhomme and Wallace will be great mentors to help mold young rookie QB Colt McCoy into the Browns future franchise quarterback. You heard it right folks…McCoy=future franchise QB. How the Browns got him in the 3rd round? Still a mystery to me, but I’ll take it! As a Browns fan I feel x10 more confident in the decisions the Browns front office is making now that MH is in charge. In Holmgren we trust…

Reason #2: Draft Class/New Players

If you have not seen the complete overhaul of the Browns of late then you haven’t paid very close attention. Holmgren and company have essentially cleaned house. Here’s the list of notable players that got the infamous ‘boot’ before the 2010 season: Quinn, Anderson, Lewis, Edwards, and C. Williams to name a few. In addition, the Browns have added Payton Hillis, Fujita, Delhomme, Joe Haden, Hardesty, McCoy, and a few good O-lineman which we desperately needed. A rebuilding year? Yes. Out of playoff contention? I think not. Most of the players released/traded were disposable and were not up to caliber to take the team to the next level. These new additions make the Browns much more competitive, especially on the defensive side, which was absolutely horrible last season. With the additions of a possible lock down corner and safety, the Browns secondary should be very good this season, at worst much improved.. And that is necessary in the AFC North as Cincinnati and Shitsburgh (I hope you feel my discontent for this city) like to air it out. In short, teams should not overlook the Browns this season. I don’t see them as a walkover team anymore. New fantasy players to watch: I predict Payton Hillis finding the end zone many times this season. Mark it down…

Reason #3: AFC North Teams

Cincinnati Bengals: Suck

Shitsburgh Steelers: Suck

Baltimore Ravens: Suck

Enough said….

Reason #4: The Cleveland Curse

It is a well known fact (even more so for Cleveland fans) that the city has not won a professional sporting title in DECADES. Needless to say the city of Cleveland knows Mr. Disappointment all too well. Here’s a fun list of names ‘disappointment’ has been labeled in Cleveland in years past: Red Right 88, The Drive, The Fumble, and now The Decision. With all this in mind Cleveland fans still remain one of the most loyal fan bases in professional sports today (and the Browns don’t even have cheerleaders!). Year in and year out they support their teams mindlessly hoping for just one momentous championship to be returned to the city by the river. This reason has no logic as to why the Browns will make the playoffs this year but it is a shout out to all my fellow Browns fans that our time is coming, and Cleveland will forever and always be a football city. Suck it, Lebron…

Reason #5: Lebron James

I do realize LBJ does not play football. But the recent happenings in the past few months have bonded Cleveland fans together for the better. What better way to bond people together then to give them a great common enemy to hate, referring to the self-proclaimed ‘king’ LBJ. BUT I don’t think EVERYTHING that happened during ‘The Decision’ was bad. Quoting the great Sir Charles Barley, yes, ‘The Decision’ was a “punk move”, but I now see a more united Cleveland. One banded together for one thing and one thing only: to get the city a championship and to ‘Reverse the Curse’. I think this football season you will witness (I’ll pause while you enjoy the irony………..) a livelier Cleveland Browns stadium. If you didn’t think that was possible….. just watch.